The following is a transcript of an interview with Councillor Salma Yaqoob on 5th January 2009 after a protest against the ongoing massacre in Gaza. Between 800 and 1000 people attempted to storm the Council House in Birmingham City Centre but were effectively pacified and contained by Yaqoob and Birmingham Stop the War.
You can read and watch footage of the protest and the interview here:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/birmingham/2009/01/417402.html
You can read and watch footage of the protest and the interview here:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/birmingham/2009/01/417402.html
IMCista: Can you explain to me what you've just done?
Salma: We've tried to make sure that we can get into this meeting. It's a fantastic turnout and we want to make sure this meeting proceeds.
IMCista: What about the protest?
Salma: We've had a protest outside and that was the point of that. We've had (sic) a public meeting inside to discuss the issues.
IMCista: You've just extinguished it.
Salma: No. That is..
[Salma Yaqoob then hits the video camera]
IMCista: Don't hit my camera! that's criminal damage.
Salma: This has been a publicly publicised meeting and that was the point of it. So don't give me rubbish about spoiling something. We're hear to discuss a serious issue and that's what's going to go on.
IMCista: You've just extinguished a protest.
Salma: No! We had a meeting this is what the people have come for. This is what people have come for.
IMCista: People have come to protest against what's happening in Gaza. Not to further your career.
Young woman: People have come to save people dying.
Salma: Exactly!
IMCista: And you think a Council meeting's going to do that?
Salma: Yeah that's why they've come here. So if you've got another agenda get out!
IMCista: You're a great leader.
Salma: That's for other people to decide not for you. And I don't see myself as a leader but as a concerned citizen.
IMCista: You're an opportunist.
Salma: It's just disgusting!
IMCista: You're an opportunist. You just want to further your career off the backs of people..
Salma [interrupts shouting]: Can you stop blocking people! You are blocking people! People are trying to get in!
[demonstrators are still freely passing through the building]
IMCista: That's what the police say to people. You're one and the same.
Salma: Have you got another agenda here to stop people showing their concern for Gaza? Have you got another agenda?
IMCista: You have! You have just extinguished a protest.
Man standing next to Salma: It's alright he's probably from Indymedia or something like that.
Salma: No no. He's actually disrupting, blocking people.
[Demonstrators are still freely passing through the wide entrance hall of the Council House]
IMCista: C'mon Salma control the unruly mob!
(Salma walks away from the interview towards Ger Francis further up the stairs)
IMCista: Vote for Salma! Vote for Salma!
Salma: We've tried to make sure that we can get into this meeting. It's a fantastic turnout and we want to make sure this meeting proceeds.
IMCista: What about the protest?
Salma: We've had a protest outside and that was the point of that. We've had (sic) a public meeting inside to discuss the issues.
IMCista: You've just extinguished it.
Salma: No. That is..
[Salma Yaqoob then hits the video camera]
IMCista: Don't hit my camera! that's criminal damage.
Salma: This has been a publicly publicised meeting and that was the point of it. So don't give me rubbish about spoiling something. We're hear to discuss a serious issue and that's what's going to go on.
IMCista: You've just extinguished a protest.
Salma: No! We had a meeting this is what the people have come for. This is what people have come for.
IMCista: People have come to protest against what's happening in Gaza. Not to further your career.
Young woman: People have come to save people dying.
Salma: Exactly!
IMCista: And you think a Council meeting's going to do that?
Salma: Yeah that's why they've come here. So if you've got another agenda get out!
IMCista: You're a great leader.
Salma: That's for other people to decide not for you. And I don't see myself as a leader but as a concerned citizen.
IMCista: You're an opportunist.
Salma: It's just disgusting!
IMCista: You're an opportunist. You just want to further your career off the backs of people..
Salma [interrupts shouting]: Can you stop blocking people! You are blocking people! People are trying to get in!
[demonstrators are still freely passing through the building]
IMCista: That's what the police say to people. You're one and the same.
Salma: Have you got another agenda here to stop people showing their concern for Gaza? Have you got another agenda?
IMCista: You have! You have just extinguished a protest.
Man standing next to Salma: It's alright he's probably from Indymedia or something like that.
Salma: No no. He's actually disrupting, blocking people.
[Demonstrators are still freely passing through the wide entrance hall of the Council House]
IMCista: C'mon Salma control the unruly mob!
(Salma walks away from the interview towards Ger Francis further up the stairs)
IMCista: Vote for Salma! Vote for Salma!